New Scripps' blood test forecasts heart attacks

The earlier study also involved scientists and doctors from Veridex LLC, Palomar Health and Sharp HealthCare. The study was underwritten by a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

“This is a small study and the findings would need to replicated in a large clinical population before this becomes available for clinical practice,” said Shaista Malik, director of the Preventive Cardiology Program at UC Irvine.

“However, that said, this is very exciting and innovative study. The ability to predict who might have a heart attack would result in many lives being saved. Approximately one-third of people who suffer heart attacks die before even reaching the hospital. Even among those who reach the hospital, early diagnosis would result in improved treatment.

“With a heart attack, time to diagnosis and treatment is critical. The faster the blocked artery that is causing the heart attack is opened up, the less damage there is to the heart muscle. With this type of test that can tell early on, possibly even before symptoms set in, would really change clinical practice and improve the prognosis for someone suffering a heart attack.”